Table of Contents
Introduction
On Personal Liberty (1 Corinthians 8:1-11:1)
1)At Liberty to Love (1 Corinthians 8)
Be Sensitive to What Others Don't Know
Do Everything as Unto God
Be Ever Mindful of Your Brother
What liberties has God given you and how are you using them as an opportunity for thankfulness?
What do you need to forgo out of respect for a brother's conscience?
2)Paul's Relinquished Rights (1 Corinthians 9)
His Credentials (9:1-7)
Rights According to God's Law (9:8-12)
Reasons to Relinquish (9:13-27)
Maximize Gospel's Effectiveness
Serve Rather Than Be Served
Run to Win
3)Flee Idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:1-22)
Israel: An Example and Warning (10:1-11)
Stand or Fall (10:12-13)
Two Tables: Christ's or Satan's (10:14-22)
4)Seek to Glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1)
5)Principle
Personal liberties are not always personal.
6)Illustration
7)Applications
What obstacles might you be placing between the gospel and the hearers?
What do you need to do in order to be a better waiter – for the sake of the gospel?
On Corporate Propriety (1 Corinthians 11:2-14:40)
1)God's Order in Authority (11:2-16)
2)God's Order in Lord's Supper (11:17-34)
It's Not About the Participant (11:17-22)
It's a Remembrance (11:23-25)
Unworthiness Judged (11:25-34)
3)God's Purpose in Gifts (12:1-14:25)
Spiritual Gifts Come From God's Spirit (12:1-11)
Spiritual Gifts Are For the Body (12:12-31)
Spiritual Gifts Are Nothing Without Love (13)
Tongues Can't Edify Without Interpretation (14:1-25)
Tongues Edify Self
Tongues Edify Spirit Not Mind
Tongues Without Interpretation Are Immature
Tongues Are a Sign For Unbelievers
Tongues Despised By Outsiders (“Out of Your Mind”)
Prophecy For the Body (14:1-25)
Prophecy Edifies Body
Prophecy Builds Up Church
Prophecy Is a Sign For Believers
Prophecy Brings Outsiders Conviction
4)God's Order In Worship (14:26-40)
5)Principle
God equips all believers to meet the needs of the church.
6)Illustration
7)Applications
How are you using your spiritual gifts to build up your church?
Do you know what gifts the Spirit has given you and are you using them for His glory and not your own?
On Christ's Victory (1 Corinthians 15-16)
1)Resurrection Proof (15:1-11)
Paul Received It, They Accepted It (15:1-4)
Eyewitnesses Attest to It (15:5-8)
Paul Was Changed By It (15:9-11)
2)Negative Implications Of No Resurrection (15:12-28)
Then Christ Was Not Raised (15:12-13)
Preaching Is Vain and Deceptive (15:14-17)
Sin Is Still Extant (15:17)
The Dead In Christ Will Perish (15:18)
No Hope In Or After This Life (15:19)
The Resurrected Lord Will Conquer All Enemies (15:20-28)
3)A Metaphor For Resurrection (15:35-49)
Imperishable (No Pain)
Immortal (No Death)
Incorruptible (No Sin)
4)The Collection, The Visit, Final Words (16:1-24)
5)Principle
A Christian's life must be lived in submission to his risen Lord.
6)Illustration
7)Applications
Conclusion
Introduction
A good waiter generally knows what a restaurant guest needs and does it without having to be asked. They do their job with the guests' needs in the front of their minds. They serve with minimal intrusion in order that everything needed is made available without impeding the dining experience for the one being served.
On Personal Liberty (1 Corinthians 8:1-11:1)
1)At Liberty to Love (1 Corinthians 8)
Most of the believers in Corinth came out of a pagan background – one in which sacrifices to idols was the norm.
Once they realized that God is the true God and idols are nothing, they realized the futility of offering sacrifices to something that is actually nothing. It was a meaningless exercise. And besides that, now that one knows the true God, what does the food that I used to eat (in order to partake in worship of the gods) really mean – nothing!
And really, that is true. It is food made by the true God for people to enjoy and be nourished by.
But Paul points out that sometimes our knowledge of a thing can really be cloaked pride. It looks from the perspective of what I can do rather than what I should do. It can lead to pride in my own liberty or to an us and them mentality which produces disunity.
Paul's subtle way of putting this goes like this:
2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.
It's kind of like a humble person acknowledging that he is humble. Sort of a self-defeating proposition for the very acknowledgment of the fact defeats the thing one claims.
Paul says the same is true with knowledge. When we imagine that we have grasped something completely (especially a spiritual truth), it gets snatched away by our own pride in that knowledge.
Be Sensitive to What Others Don't Know
Paul also points out that there are truths that mature believers begin to grasp over time. But as a mature believer, one must still be sensitive to those who have not yet arrived at that same knowledge.
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.”
5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”—
6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
Do Everything as Unto God
This example of meet offered to idols is just one of many liberties we can and do enjoy as believers. But its not about the assertion of one's rights in Christ but its always about the heart attitude of the one exercising those rights.
That's why Paul says:
8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.
The item of liberty has no ability in itself to make us closer or farther from God than we already are. But one's attitude in exercising a liberty can draw one nearer or put a barrier in fellowship with God.
A grateful heart to God, thanks for His provision, and acknowledgment that it and the ability to enjoy it all come from His gracious hand. Our exercise of freedom gives us the freedom to worship and give glory to our Lord.
Be Ever Mindful of Your Brother
If in the process of exercising my liberty I offend a brother, then my liberty – no matter how grateful to God I am – is no longer just between God and I. I need to be very sensitive to those for whom Christ died.
There are those who for one reason or another are not able to exercise the liberty you and I might be free to exercise. Either they have been forbidden by the Lord or they have a weak conscience that associates a certain practice with something that they cannot accept.
So the bottom line is, exercise liberty with a grateful heart toward God and a loving attitude toward your fellow man.
What liberties has God given you and how are you using them as an opportunity for thankfulness?
What do you need to forgo out of respect for a brother's conscience?
2)Paul's Relinquished Rights (1 Corinthians 9)
Paul lived out this same practice when he spent his 1.5+ years in Corinth.
His Credentials (9:1-7)
He starts by pointing out his credentials. He in fact is a full fledged apostle, just like Peter and John. He was an eyewitness to the resurrected Christ and was called out by God as an apostle – he was not self-appointed.
He had every right to gain his living from those he ministered to.
He had the right to eat the food of those he taught. He had the right to go on an accompanied tour. He should not have had to work a side job.
Paul uses a logical approach to point out that this is the regular pattern in the world: soldiers are paid, vintners share in the fruit, shepherds drink the milk.
Rights According to God's Law (9:8-12)
Even in the law God put provisions for such things for animals and, more importantly, man. The ox and the grain. The plowman. The thresher.
All of these individuals were naturally expected to reap a bit of the work that they performed.
Reasons to Relinquish (9:13-27)
But Paul chose a different course. He determined in his own heart that he would not exercise his liberties because of a greater cause.
Note that he makes it a point that his work for the gospel was a compulsion – he had no option in this regard only in regard to what he could legitimately receive from that ministry.
Maximize Gospel's Effectiveness
12b Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
The very liberty and right that Paul had, he chose to deny himself for the sake of the gospel message and those who would hear his message. And he saw his reward as the result of the gospel in the lives of those who believe.
Serve Rather Than Be Served
Paul was compelled to spread the gospel, he did it without personal physical gain, and he lived to serve those that he presented the gospel to:
20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.
21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
Paul took seriously our Lord's words: the greatest in the kingdom will be the least and the servant of all.
He was not waiting for others to serve him, he was waiting on other (just like a good waiter does).
Run to Win
Paul knew that life was like a race. In a race, nobody in that day got the prize except the one that crossed the finish line first.
The one who had disciplined himself and worked the hardest was the winner. And it took a lot of self-denial to win a race.
Paul's view of what he is doing is just that. I have rights as an apostle, but I am willing to let them go in order to finish the race in first place. The goal was more important to him than what he gained on the path toward the goal. And his heart was right in how he went about it.
3)Flee Idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:1-22)
As we talked about earlier, these Corinthians were very familiar with idol worship so Paul continues on in pointing out the subtlety of idolatry even when idols (graven images) are not involved.
Israel: An Example and Warning (10:1-11)
Case in point, Israel. We saw, this past week, the atrocities they did by sinning against the God who redeemed them from slavery.
And Moses wrote down these things to serve as a lesson for Israel as well as those of us upon whom the end of the ages has come. (see 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11)
Stand or Fall (10:12-13)
Warnings are sometimes shocking, especially when you see them as something that you would never do. But Paul wants the warned to not be comfortable with merely a warning or with the fact that they have not acted in the same manner.
He wants us to be careful in our comfort of being free from such things. Once again, the subtlety of pride in ones good standing, whether it be knowledge or righteous living or something else – it is dangerous and leads to a fall.
10:12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Two Tables: Christ's or Satan's (10:14-22)
To think that we can indulge in some form of idolatry and then come to the Lord's table is dead wrong. It is the same type of attitude many of the Israelites had and they paid a dear price for such rebellion.
God is a jealous God and he will not long tolerate willful disobedience, thinking that one can mix allegiance to God and this world.
4)Seek to Glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1)
In summary:
10:24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
5)Principle
Personal liberties are not always personal.
7)Applications
What obstacles might you be placing between the gospel and the hearers?
What do you need to do in order to be a better waiter – for the sake of the gospel?
On Corporate Propriety (1 Corinthians 11:2-14:40)
Ushers → Waiters
Bulletins → Menus
Order of Worship → Menu Items
Have you ever walked into a worship service, gotten a bulletin from an usher, and looked at the order of service and it might as well have been a menu from a waiter and you picking out a few menu items? Sometimes we look at worship services in that way. We look for the things that are there for us rather than taking part in adoration and praise of the Eternal God and Glorious Redeemer of His people.
1)God's Order in Authority (11:2-16)
I don't want to (nor can I) delve into all the details of what each part of this passage means. There are a wide spectrum of views. But what I would like to say is that God has ordained authority structures – they are part of His nature within the Godhead and they are part of the reality of His created order.
Our aim should be to respect the authorities He has set in place because if I don't, then I am rebelling against Him and dishonoring my Head, even Christ.
Such an attitude of defiance makes it impossible to come before God with a clear conscience and will in fact impede my ability to commune with Him.
Paul draws from some of the cultural norms of the day to point out how naturally this understanding is true and how much more it should be so for those who desire a close walk with God.
2)God's Order in Lord's Supper (11:17-34)
Thoughts: when you go to a restaurant, you pay for the meal so you have certain expectations regarding service and quality of food. But at the Lord's Supper, who paid for the meal? Whose expectations matter?
Each week, on the first day of the week (Sunday), the believers would gather to sing, pray, hear from God's word, and share in the Lord's supper.
They observed this practice for over a year as Paul met with them on his second missionary journey. They understood what to do, but there were some in their midst who obviously had lost the meaning of their gatherings.
It's Not About the Participant (11:17-22)
NOTE: Paul points out that sometimes divisions in a church are inevitable in order to point out who is genuine and who is not. (11:18,19)
The Lord's Supper that they were celebrating was in fact not the Lord's Supper even though they would have called it the same.
What made it not the Lord's Supper is the fact that it was about them and not about the Lord.
It was a time when many sought self-fulfillment rather than self-examination.
20 When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat.
21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.
22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
It's a Remembrance (11:23-25)
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Unworthiness Judged (11:25-34)
Paul points out the seriousness of the Lord's Supper. It is never to be taken lightly. Apart from a recognition that you are a sinner, that you deserve God's wrath, and that Christ alone has paid the penalty for your sin – there is nothing you can do to earn God's good favor or become worthy of His table – only then is one able to legitimately partake of the bread and wine.
This table is all about the Lord. It reminds us of our unworthiness and His worthiness and grace toward the unworthy.
3)God's Purpose in Gifts (12:1-14:25)
Consider: have you ever attended an orchestra concert? There is a time at the beginning of the concert where all of the performers are preparing their instruments – tuning them. There is no order. There isn't any correlation between what the violinist is playing and oboe. It can be very distressing, especially if you think the whole concert is going to sound this way. But once the conductor taps the lectern and all attention is on him and the music to be played, then the sounds that are produced have meaning and are edifying to the listener.
Spiritual gifts are like an instrument and the ability to play it. Those who know how to play an instrument but only use that ability while in private benefit only themselves. But when that instrument is put to use for others to enjoy, then it becomes edifying for not just the person playing, but all those who hear.
Spiritual Gifts Come From God's Spirit (12:1-11)
None of us have the ability to produce a spiritual gift. In fact they are called spiritual gifts because their origin is the Spirit of God. And all persons who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit have at least one spiritual gift.
Our gifts are not to be squandered. And they are not meant to point to the value or usefulness of one person over another:
I can't look at you and say, “Wow, you are gifted by the Lord in such and such way and therefore you are more valuable to the church.”
Nor can I look at my gift and say, “My gift is so small and insignificant, what value is it anyway?”
That's why Paul goes into such detail regarding the body (human body) and its parts. Everything in the human body has some function no matter how insignificant it might seem. And if that function were not there, it would disrupt other parts of the body.
The same is true with spiritual gifts, they are given for the body and should not be looked at in relation to their perceived importance but only as a blessing from God to build up and bring to completion the needs of the body (the church).
Spiritual Gifts Are For the Body (12:12-31)
Spiritual Gifts Are Nothing Without Love (13)
Tongues Can't Edify Without Interpretation (14:1-25)
Tongues Edify Self
Tongues Edify Spirit Not Mind
Tongues Without Interpretation Are Immature
Tongues Are a Sign For Unbelievers
Tongues Despised By Outsiders (“Out of Your Mind”)
Prophecy For the Body (14:1-25)
Prophecy, in our day – with the completion of the canon of Scripture – is a matter of forth-telling as set forth in the Bible. Prior to the completion of the Scriptures, God gifted the church with prophets who would bring a word from the Lord.
A prophet was never to claim that his own words were the words of the Lord. This would be blasphemous. And certainly the prophet was not supposed to take credit for the words he spoke of the prominence of his gift.
The prophecy had several purposes:
Prophecy Edifies Body
Encouraged. Brought hope. Pointed to the Lord. Always redirected focus away from circumstances and toward the Sovereign One who was in control of circumstances.
And in so doing it:
Prophecy Builds Up Church
Prophecy Is a Sign For Believers
Prophecy is meant to direct believers' attention to the greatness of God.
But as Paul pointed out, if an unbeliever hears the words of a prophet as he expounds the word of the Lord, he will be convicted because it is in fact God's word being spoken.
Prophecy Brings Outsiders Conviction
4)God's Order In Worship (14:26-40)
1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
40 But all things should be done decently and in order.
5)Principle
God equips all believers to meet the needs of the church.
7)Applications
How are you using your spiritual gifts to build up your church?
Do you know what gifts the Spirit has given you and are you using them for His glory and not your own?
On Christ's Victory (1 Corinthians 15-16)
1)Resurrection Proof (15:1-11)
Paul Received It, They Accepted It (15:1-4)
Eyewitnesses Attest to It (15:5-8)
Paul Was Changed By It (15:9-11)
2)Negative Implications Of No Resurrection (15:12-28)
Then Christ Was Not Raised (15:12-13)
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
Preaching Is Vain and Deceptive (15:14-17)
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.
16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.
Sin Is Still Extant (15:17)
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
The Dead In Christ Will Perish (15:18)
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
No Hope In Or After This Life (15:19)
19 If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
The Resurrected Lord Will Conquer All Enemies (15:20-28)
This is not necessarily a chronology of event as they are listed in this sequence of verses. Some of the items are complete already and some have yet to happen. Some will occur concurrently when he returns and some will be part of a divine sequence in the last day.
3)A Metaphor For Resurrection (15:35-49)
The physical → spiritual body.
The seed planted → plant that grows.
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